Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

Zhang Su, the chief registrar of Xixiang, heard that Zhu Ming had won the top prize in the examination and immediately brought people to congratulate him in person.

As for the real purpose, I want to visit Daming Village and find out how many hidden fields there are!

Although Zhang Su got along well with Zhu Guoxiang, he also admired Zhu Guoxiang very much and asked Zhu Guoxiang to promote corn and sweet potatoes throughout the county. However, Zhang Su's ears about Daming Village's crazy population absorption always made him feel that something was wrong.

Xixiang County has many mountains and little land, and its population is very scattered. There are at most a few hundred people in a village.

Large villages with thousands of people are all located around the county.

Therefore, Daming Village, with more than 1,500 people, is so eye-catching that it is very difficult to hide it.

The units from top to bottom in the Northern Song Dynasty were roughly as follows:

Central - Road - Fuzhou Military Supervision - County - Township - Li Guan Tuan Qi Du Bao Village.

Li, Guan, Tuan, Qi, Du and Bao were all artificially designated and used to collect taxes and maintain public order. Some of these units exist simultaneously, some are abandoned and some are equivalent to each other. Anyway, it is so confusing that it often confuses historians.

Villages are natural settlements and have nothing to do with administrative divisions.

Coming back to my hometown, this thing has become imaginary.

Before Wang Anshi's reform, "township" was infinitely close to the physical government divisions, and the boundaries of townships were not fixed and were constantly adjusted according to the actual taxation situation.

After Wang Anshi's political reform, "township" became a geographical concept, mainly used to implement the Baojia Law. Township boundaries gradually became fixed and were drawn based on the direction of mountains, rivers and rivers.

The virtualization of "township" does not mean that the control at the grassroots level has been weakened, but rather that it has been greatly strengthened.

Because the rights and responsibilities of the "township" were further delegated to the "li".

The virtual countryside is real.

Although Zhang Su has not yet made his subordinates completely obedient, he is basically quite obedient, and he does not dare to go too far even if he is obedient or not.

Therefore, he wanted to redraw the rural boundaries.

This was in line with the central government's policy. Wang Anshi stipulated that 500 households should be one city, but Cai Jing ordered that it be changed to 250 households. This will strengthen the management of rural grassroots and make it easier for the court to collect taxes from farmers.

Zhang Su planned to use the name of redrawing rural boundaries to find out the true household registration in the county, clear out some hidden households, and identify some hidden fields (he did not dare to thoroughly investigate the hidden fields, otherwise it would inevitably arouse violent resistance).

on board.

Zhang Su stood with his hands behind his hands and looked at the river ahead: "The matter of demarcating the rural boundaries requires a lot of effort from Bai Yasi."

Bai Chongwu said: "I must do my best in my humble position, but I'm afraid I won't be able to satisfy the chief registrar."

"Just try your best." Zhang Su knew what the situation was like in the countryside, but he never thought he could get it right in one step.

Bai Chongwu had a flattering smile on his face, but in his heart he blamed Zhang Su for being so meddlesome and redrawing rural boundaries.

Zhang Su said: "Shangbai Village, Xiabai Village, Daming Village, as well as Huishui Village and Wangcun Village further downstream, I plan to classify these five villages as Daming Township with Daming Village as the center. The capital under the jurisdiction of Daming Township Heli shall be reclassified according to the actual household registration.”

"yes!"

Bai Chongwu kept saying yes, but in fact he didn't intend to cooperate. At most, he threw some Yinhu and Yintian to make up the number.

"Master Zhang, why did you go to Daming Village alone?"

An official ship came after him, but Magistrate Xiang was laughing heartily.

Xiang Zhixian is in a good mood recently, and he has already connected with the newly arrived He Zhizhou. Secretly bribed him with two thousand guan and asked He Zhizhou to help him apply for an increase in the selection level, paving the way for passing the exam and being selected at the end of the year.

This is in line with the process. The selection level is reviewed every three years, and the superior officer needs to help apply.

Xiang Zhixian felt that he would definitely be promoted. What are his political achievements? First, he suppressed the rebels, and now he vigorously promotes new crops. Moreover, he also gave money to Shangguan!

Zhang Su suddenly lost his temper when he heard Xiang Zhixian's voice. He had a very bad impression of this boss.

Of course, you can't really fall out, and you have to report to the county magistrate about redrawing township boundaries.

The county magistrate, chief registrar, and subordinate officials disembarked at the Daming Village Pier.

After Zhu Guoxiang got the news, he immediately took people to greet him, followed by several gentry from the county.

During busy farming periods, Zhu Guoxiang often went to various villages to guide local gentry in planting corn and sweet potatoes. The methods of raising and transplanting rapeseed seedlings and raising seedlings under water and drought control were also taught to farmers in each village, significantly increasing the grain output in Xixiang County.

These are all visible benefits. The gentry from all over the country respected Zhu Guoxiang very much. Some people even called him "Mr. Yuan Zhang".

I heard that Duke Yuan Zhang’s son was the top pick in high school, and gentry came to congratulate him every day.

"I've seen Xiangzhi County!"

"I've seen Master Zhang!"

Zhu Guoxiang and several gentry saluted the two officials one after another.

Although Xiang Zhixian has fallen into disgrace, he likes to show off his face in public.

He walked quickly to the front to show his position as chief official, and enthusiastically took Zhu Guoxiang's hand. Perhaps because of the appearance of a prostitute, he was more respectful to Zhu Guoxiang and even changed his title: "Mr. Yuanzhang, congratulations to your son for passing the third place in the imperial examination!"

Zhu Guoxiang smiled and said, "I'm sorry to hear from you, the county magistrate."

Xiang Zhixian said to the gentry again: "The spring of the year before last, I went to eat Mrs. Bai's birthday wine, and that's where I first met Zhu Tanhua. At first sight, I felt that this young man was extraordinary. He had mastered the three classics at a young age. I He was also recommended as a child prodigy by the emperor. It is a pity that the memorial was sent to Tokyo like a cow in the sea."

The gentry quickly flattered him: "The county magistrate has a sharp eye, which is really admirable."

Everyone was talking about business with each other, and Zhu Guoxiang invited them to the inn for a drink.

But Zhang Su said: "The sun is still early. I have admired the name of Daming Village for a long time, so why not go to the village for a walk."

Zhu Guoxiang asked Xiang Zhixian: "What does the county magistrate think?"

Xiang Zhixian complained about Zhang Su's troubles, but still smiled and said: "Then let's go for a walk and understand the sentiments of the people."

Everyone followed the Han River and headed towards the Waste Tea Mountain first.

Zhang Su pointed to the thatched houses by the river: "These thatched houses are still very new, were they only built this year?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "They are all refugees fleeing from other places. I saw how pitiful they were, so I arranged for them to cultivate wasteland by the river. After three to five years, when the wasteland is fully cultivated, I will go to the county government to collect the land deeds."

This sentence alone stopped Zhang Su from wanting to investigate Hidden Hidden Fields.

The imperial court encouraged the refugees to cultivate wasteland. After the land was cultivated, they could receive land deeds and be exempted from taxes for three to five years.

Obtaining the land deed after the land is fully cultivated is to prevent large households from wantonly enclosing the land, but now it has become an excuse for Zhu Guoxiang to delay registration. When the wasteland is fully cultivated, Zhang Su will have been transferred away...

Zhang Su felt a little unhappy and asked, "Are they really refugees from other places?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "If the chief secretary doesn't believe it, you can go and ask yourself."

If you ask Jidan, they must have colluded with each other a long time ago.

Zhang Su was still unwilling to give in: "Even the refugees should make a register. First make a refugee register and record the wasteland they reclaimed. After three to five years, when the land is ripe, the land deeds will be given."

"It's all up to Master Zhang to make the decision." Zhu Guoxiang agreed smoothly.

It takes three to five years for the land to be cultivated, and taxes must be reduced or exempted for another three to five years. Ten to eight years have passed like this. Who knows what will happen at that time.

Even if there is a new county magistrate and a new chief registrar during this period, don't even think about coming here to cause trouble, because Daming Village is legal and compliant.

If they insist on random exploitation, they will directly drive out the tax collectors by force and file a lawsuit in Tokyo city. Daming Village is also the right party.

The premise is that with the support of Ju Ming as an official, Daming Village's own strength is sufficient.

Zhang Su carefully read Zhu Guoxiang's agricultural books and knew that legume crops can fertilize the fields. He walked to a piece of dry land and asked: "Are these newly opened wastelands?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "The first three years were used to grow beans. When the fertility was sufficient, it was changed to paddy fields in the fourth year. These fields are all along the river, so irrigation is very convenient. The villagers are still digging irrigation canals along the river, using ordinary tubes. Cars can lift water for irrigation.”

Zhang Su sighed: "What a wonderful land, why has it always been deserted before?"

Zhu Guoxiang explained: "I heard that a few decades ago, farmers lived here. Later, when faced with natural or man-made disasters, they all fled to the mountains or other places."

"Natural disasters and man-made disasters..." Zhang Su sneered, "I'm afraid there will be more man-made disasters."

After walking to the waste tea mountain after taking care of it, everyone returned the same way.

Zhang Su asked: "Did Duke Yuanzhang give these seeds to the refugees?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "They are all poor people, and life is really difficult. So I lent them seeds and farm tools with an annual interest of one cent."

Zhang Su cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Yuan Zhang is indeed benevolent and righteous!"

Although he always felt something was wrong, Zhang Su still didn't think about it that way.

If you really want to rebel, you can directly incite the refugees to attack the county town, or simply dominate the mountain and plunder everywhere. How can you cultivate the land first and slowly accumulate strength?

What's more, Zhu Ming has already passed the third overall.

Tan Hwa Lang's father rebelled?

Isn’t this nonsense!

When returning, Zhang Su visited the village school again.

Zhu Guoxiang introduced: "The village school is not closed and cultivated, and there are currently only more than a dozen students. When times get better next year, there will definitely be many villagers willing to send their children to study."

Zhang Su looked at the classroom and said in surprise: "There are actually girls?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "That is the daughter of Meng Zhao, a scholar in this village. When I was too busy, I asked Meng Zhao to teach on my behalf. Although the students are male and female, so far, no villager has been willing to send a girl."

"It's so hard!" Zhang Su said with emotion.

Because he saw that all the students in the classroom had no paper or pen, and were practicing calligraphy in the sand basin with bamboo branches.

After thinking about it, Zhang Su took out his money and said, "Let's buy some pens, ink, paper and inkstones for the children."

Zhu Guoxiang took it with both hands: "Thank you, Chief Registrar, for your support."

Xiang Zhixian felt that he could not lose face, so he said to the people around him: "In a few days, you will bring five pieces of money... You don't need to bring money, buy some pens, inks, paper and inkstones, and deliver them to Daming Village to Duke Yuan Zhang."

Zhu Guoxiang immediately flattered: "The county lord and the chief administrator are worthy of being the parents of this county. They are dedicated to educating the people. I admire them very much."

There was another business exchange, and Zhang Su wanted to follow the tributary to the mountains to continue to inspect the situation.

Most of the people along the route are indigenous villagers. They have been developing for almost two years, and every household has a surplus of food. They are obviously richer than the new immigrants on the riverside.

Not only did they grow grain, they also learned from Zhu Guoxiang to grow mushrooms, and raised some poultry as a side job.

There are fertile fields everywhere in the river valley.

Thanks to the construction of canals, crops are growing lushly on the land at the foot of the mountain far away from the river.

Xiangzhi County liked this place very much. It was the ideal pastoral beauty of a literati. He couldn't help but praise: "As you enter by the river, the valley suddenly opens up. There are streets and streets, chickens and dogs hear each other, and the people are happy. This is a true paradise! Who could have imagined that the two Was it actually a den of thieves years ago?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Although the farmers here become thieves, they have no choice but to send the thieves to the officials, and the remaining villagers can be taught to be good."

Zhang Su looked at the villagers in the valley. They were all busy and happy, and he completely stopped thinking about tracing the hidden fields.

Just hide it, as long as the people are rich. If you really want to find out, you might even harm them.

Zhang Su couldn't help but said: "If Duke Yuanzhang is the county magistrate, he will definitely make the county rich and stable. Living in seclusion in Daming Village is really an indignity of talent."

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Prefectures and counties should levy less exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes. No matter who is the official, the people can rest and recuperate."

Zhang Su was speechless because this was the truth.